Bulls Eye 4.2 load for 9mm

[KLYDE]

I normally run a near max load of Power Pistol and the Hornady 115 gr HAP in my Springfield 9mm 1911 RO. My supply of HAP bullets is getting low. I squirreled up on a couple thousand Xtreme 124 gr plated bullets a couple years back...just in case. Well the just in case has arrived. Loaded ammo and components is zilch. Time to hit the reserves. I want to load some of the Xtreme and don't want to push them that fast with the Power Pistol.

A month or two ago there was a thread in regard to loads for 9mm. One member posted that he was running the Xtreme 124 with 4.0 grns of BE @1.10 COL, with great results. Another member posted a link to a universal Bulls Eye 4.2 grain for everything (all bullet weights) 9mm load. It was an interesting article and I should have saved it.

Picked up a pound of BE and tried finding the thread with no luck. Any members here recall that thread or have info on the 4.2 load. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
Klyde

 

[TMan51]

Picked up a pound of BE and tried finding the thread with no luck. Any members here recall that thread. Any help would be appreciated.

I've used Red Dot and Bullseye for cast 115gr and 125gr bullets. The loads were worked up for function in both of my Shield 9's. 4.0gr of Bullseye isn't likely to be a problem if you don't seat the bullet too deep, (I use 1.10" OAL), and is below a max charge with multiple different bullets. Accuracy is quite good in my pair.

 

[Funflyer]

Here's a link to the March 4.2 BE discussion from the 1911 forum.

I always get a kick out of threads, or articles on the subject of "the perfect one size fits all load" as it doesn't take much effort to debunk that theory. While I have a few really good loads using Bullseye in different calibers, 9mm isn't one of them.

 

[KLYDE]

That was it Funflyer. Link to the actual article doesn't work but I remember the author.

Figured I'd give it a try. If results are negative I'll use the BE in some .45 auto plated bullet loads.

Thanks Klyde

 

[DWalt]

BE will work better in .45 ACP vs 9mm. But there is no shortage of 9mm BE loads. 4.2 grains of BE is actually a little on the mild side for any 9mm 115-124 grain bullet.

 

[mikld]

Perhaps a bit off topic, but I pay very little attention to any load data I don't see in my published reloading manuals. It is also common for plated bullets to be loaded with lead data (and there's a "formula" floating around about "mid-jacketed loads"). It is quite safe (and often recommended) to at least start a load workup for a plated bullet with lead bullet data...

FWIW, I would approach 4.0 gr of Bullseye very cautiously, no matter which forum guru posted it...

 

[rockquarry]

Perhaps a bit off topic, but I pay very little attention to any load data I don't see in my published reloading manuals. It is also common for plated bullets to be loaded with lead data (and there's a "formula" floating around about "mid-jacketed loads"). It is quite safe (and often recommended) to at least start a load workup for a plated bullet with lead bullet data...

FWIW, I would approach 4.0 gr of Bullseye very cautiously, no matter which forum guru posted it...

Good advice regarding the use of data from reputable load manuals.

 

[KLYDE]

I've got 10 reloading manuals on my bookshelf. Been reloading for 30+ years and ALWAYS use the bullet manufacturers data for a specific bullet I'm using. Have never ventured too far into the land of plated or cast bullets.

Not one of my manuals gives specific data for the Xtreme 124. My Lyman Cast Manual has data for cast bullets in that weight range that can be used for an approximation. Depending on bullet design or alloy composition 4.0 grains is about mid load to upper area for many. 4.6 BE was the highest max for the Lyman #356637 125 gr HP.

Surprisingly the Lyman Cast Manual had Power Pistol data for many of the cast 9mm loads. I may just stay with the Power Pistol as I have many pounds on hand.

Question for you plated bullet guys. Using cast bullet data would midrange of the cast data be a good starting point for the plated bullets? And will the plated max load be higher than the cast max load? Not trying to make up barn burners...just want to get an efficient round.

Thanks to all for their input.

Klyde

 

[rockquarry]

I shoot only cast bullets in 9mm; never found a reason to try plated, painted, coated, etc., but lots of powders work well in this cartridge. I've tried many cast bullets from around 100 grains to more than 150. Because of its accuracy, I now use only a 150 grain round nose bullet cast from an obsolete Lyman .38 Special mould and Bullseye powder.

Good luck with your endeavor-

 

[Nevada Ed]

First off, the Xtreme 124gr plated that can have a OAL of 1.10 to 1.16" and the Berry THP or the HAP type JHP style bullet from 1.07 to 1.113" OAL setting are two different animals.

Powder volume is very different with these two bullets and fps will be very different due to some powders will not work with the case volume at hand, however Bullseye works with a short OAL for factory fps loads with the 115 & 147gr bullets.

The "Ball" 124 gr with Bullseye at 1.12" OAL can get up to 1094fps in my 3.5" C9.
A starting load at a OAL set at 1.165" will do 945fps in a Military case and be at POA with 5 at .52", off a rest at 15 yards.

The Berry THP/ HAP bullet at a OAL of 1.075" with a full load of Bullseye from an old Speer manual will do 1173fps and the starting load hits 996fps out of a 5" barrel.
Unique is usually the best for a full fps load but with this short OAL it did 1083fps while BE-86 powder was able to get to 1220fps.

the 115 and 124gr are great weight bullets to play with.
Have fun putting the puzzle together.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Just a note on light loads if you load them.

Several bullets can get to very low fps in my 5" pistol and get great accuracy but they still need to exit the barrel.

However;
two of these light loads will NOT work in my little 3" barrel 9mm pistols.

Now I use the lightest loads that work in my little 3" 9mm pistols as my lowest target load for the slide to eject the cases
and keep every one happy, with all my pistols.

A 124gr 9mm in a 5" barrel doing just 998fps is my lowest accuracy load with Bullseye and a long way from your 4.2 gr. test load , (picture posted 6/18/2018)

so keep on shooting.

 

[KLYDE]

I discovered from a member that Xtreme offers an on line loading manual that they send you for $4.95 in PDF form. Made the purchase and they emailed it to me 5 minutes later.

Hard data for every plated bullet they make. CUP pressure...OAL...and charge weights. Only drawback was they don't list a multitude of powders.

BE86 was listed for the bullet weight and profile I have so I hit the LGS yesterday and grabbed a couple of pounds. I scrapped the Bulls Eye load.

There was quite a variance in OAL's and charge weights for bullets of the same weight but different profile. Doing any loading without this manual is just guessing.

Klyde

 

[Nevada Ed]

There was quite a variance in OAL's and charge weights for bullets of the same weight but different profile. Doing any loading without this manual is just guessing. (Quote)

Yes sir................ Day & Night !!

A 124 Ball round nose at 1.165" OAL can hold a lot more powder
than a 124 "HAP" style HP shoved into a small 9mm case with a OAL of 1.075" !!

Same goes for the Speer 147 Flat Tip vs the Berry 147 plated Round Nose.
Unique goes from 4.5c to 3.8c for the case volume........ (not loading data)

Plus I never seat a 147gr bullet deeper than .30" and never shorter than 1.13", due to pressures that can arise.

Stay safe.